Rested Chiefs Out for L.A. Double : Rams: After beating the Raiders and taking a week off, Kansas City presents a multifaceted offense in Anaheim.
Worn down by six losses and their speedy retreat from the NFC Western Division race, the Rams have to try to rekindle their spirits before Christian Okoye stamps them out for good.
And rested after a bye week that followed their come-from-behind victory over the Raiders two weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs simply want to keep their momentum going.
The Rams have lost games this season because of injuries, critical fourth-quarter foul-ups and a lack of consistency. Today, when they play the Chiefs at Anaheim Stadium, the Rams realize they could simply get pounded into submission by a stronger, hungrier opponent.
As the Rams (3-6) increasingly turn their present over to the players of the future, Kansas City (6-3) tries to lay the groundwork for a trip to the Super Bowl--this season.
“We don’t see ourselves as trying to end the season,” said rookie Ram defensive lineman Robert Young, who has been switched from tackle to end. “We’re just trying to get better, trying to win some games, push on.
“I believe in this young group. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.”
In addition to the new position for Young, rookie defensive back Todd Lyght has moved ahead of veteran Jerry Gray and rookie linebacker Roman Phifer is expected to play more.
“I feel, and I’ve told them, although their record’s not indicative of it, they’re improving,” defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher said. “Their effort is there, and their understanding of what we’re trying to do is improving.
“The improving is what you’ve got to keep talking to them about, although it’s no consolation for a 3-6 record.”
Any improvement will be tested against 260-pound Okoye, the speed of rookie back Harvey Williams and the play-action work of 37-year-old quarterback Steve DeBerg.
Ram Coach John Robinson has noted that the Rams usually can stop one aspect of an offense, only to get beat by something else. “Running teams are beating us by the pass, and passing teams are beating us by the run,” he said.
Backup quarterback Steve Walsh, blocker Buford Jordan and 270-pound Craig (Ironhead) Heyward catching long passes for the Saints beat the Rams last week.
Of the Chiefs, Fisher said: “I think it’s probably going to be the toughest challenge we’ve faced all year, from the standpoint of the running game and the play-action passing game and the nickel offense--the different combinations of people.”
Young, who played against Williams four times when both were in the Southeastern Conference, said: “We’ve been playing backs like Harvey most of the year. Now Christian Okoye, that’s a different story. You’ve got a back that’s just as big as our defensive line coming at you running a 4.5-second (40-yard dash).
“It’s going to take some mental preparation. We’ve got to keep our pads down. There’s not going to be any taking-off plays. You’ve got to come (at them) on every play.”
And when the Ram defenders weary of smashing into Okoye, Williams will pop into the lineup, ready to zig-zag through them.
Okoye is having perhaps his finest season. He has rushed for 761 yards in 169 carries, scoring eight touchdowns. The rookie Williams, having pushed last year’s backup, Barry Word, out of the picture, has gained 296 yards in 61 carries. Together, they are averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
DeBerg, who has completed 60.9% of his passes for 11 touchdowns, uses play-action to freeze defenses that fear Okoye, thereby freeing the deep threats. Unheralded Robb Thomas, Tim Barnett and Todd McNair have combined to catch 70 passes for 791 yards.
“Kansas City is a very physical team, runs the ball at you very well and just is willing to keep coming,” Robinson said. “Steve DeBerg does for his team as much as any quarterback does for their team in this league.
“His excellence at certain areas--ball-handling, play-action passing--makes him among the most significant contributors at quarterback.”
Ram Notes
The Rams will see a familiar face doing some unfamiliar things today for Kansas City. Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer said the team got a bonus out of former Ram Pete Holohan after they signed him as a Plan B free agent. Holohan suffered a knee injury during training camp and has only seven receptions, but has impressed Schottenheimer with his readiness to block. “He’s not a 260-pound tight end that will knock you around, but he’s a great competitor and he stays after it,” Schottenheimer said. “As I told him here, I said, ‘Pete, you have to be a blocker in this organization as a tight end before you get the chance to be the receiver.’ ”
The Chiefs have been getting by with several of their key defensive people injured. Pro Bowl cornerback Albert Lewis has had a knee problem, and this week, cornerback Kevin Ross (ankle), linebacker Dino Hackett (shoulder) and defensive end Neil Smith (ankle) are questionable. . . . In his last four games, linebacker Derrick Thomas of the Chiefs has six sacks. . . . The Chiefs are winless in three games against the Rams. . . . The Rams placed defensive tackle Mike Piel on the injured-reserve list Saturday and signed defensive tackle Mike Charles (6 feet 4, 305).